What's My Brew

Like others in our little Comeback group, I was raised very religiously. We were Pentecostals, so we were different: in the world but not of the world (see John 17 and Titus 3). We didn't do a lot of things; smoking and drinking, for example, were verboten. Movies too. And fun parks. Dancing was probably the worst.

For the most part, I didn't mind the restrictions, and speaking of minds, I made up my own on most issues as I grew up. I went to a movie and decided that it wasn't really evil. Same with fun parks although I was chastised for that in particular. But for the most part, I liked and still like the basic values of my evangelical upbringing.

I am quite honest and truthful. And sober of course. I have tried pot — just a few times for something to do — but wouldn't think of making it a habit, for I value sobriety.

Good Christians don't drink, however. Or at least that's what I thought.

I still think that to some degree: that good people drink only moderately.

Therefore, when I went to uni, I did bible study and evangelism instead of boozing and partying. So I never developed much of a taste for beer. I do have it every now and then with a salty snack or pizza or some such, and I can like it that way, but I don't have much of a taste for just beer on its own and probably only consume about two 12-packs a year and with some help from my friends at that.

Wine? Well that was another beverage that I tried as an adult and still a devout Christian one at that. I drink it — a little bit. Usually before or during dinner two or three times per week. Small glasses of red. It's good for me, but I could easily do without it in my life.

Then there's that ubiquitous drink — coffee. Although not against my religious convictions, I didn't start drinking it until I was in my fifties. I recall trying it as a teenager when my sainted mother made me a cup. Instant coffee. Blech! So bad that I eschewed it for the next three and a half decades.

Then, at age 53, I decided to finally be an adult. I began with loads of cream and sugar but soon settled into a sugarless version, still with plenty of cream. I have one in the morning, usually within about 5 minutes of awaking, thanks to the Tassimo machine which we keep in my upstairs den. I don't even have to go to the kitchen: just walk across the hall and start it up. On some nights, I even remember to pre-fill it with water and get the pod and mug ready to brew, which may bring my morning wait time down to three or four minutes instead of five or six.

But that's it. One mug unless we go out for breakfast, which we do about once a month.

My real weakness is Coke. Diet Coke. Almost ice cold coke. It just feels very good on my throat, which I swear almost always seems to be low grade sore.

Sore throat. That's my excuse, and I'm sticking to it.